Taking a Trip Back in Time to the Wayside
Country Store in Marlborough, Massachusetts

Sometimes, there's a fine line between a historical New
England country store and a hokey, souvenir shop. Throw in some
tacky merchandise into an old building, call yourself a quaint country
store and, presto, people come in droves to buy t-shirts with
inappropriate messages, fall-apart trinklets, and drinking mugs
with logos that disappear with the first wash.

Fotunately, the Wayside Country Store, on the Old Boston Post Rd. (Rt.
20) in Marlborough, MA, and a handful of other Massachusetts country
stores pride themselves on being the "Real McCoy," combining historical
architectual with a true tour de force of traditional country store
merchandise. Not to be confused with the nearby Longfellow's
Wayside Inn restaurant and inn (made famous by Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow in “Tales of a Wayside Inn”), the Wayside Country Store
dates back to 1790. Henry Ford purchased the building in 1928, became
owner and operator, and moved this architectural gem -- by oxen -- to
its current scenic spot overlooking scenic Hager Pond.

With its grand classic white Colonial exterior look with long pillars
(made from tree trunks) accenting the inviting building and a large
American Flag, you feel even more welcome upon entering the two-story
maze of rooms. The creaky wooden floors, the ocassionally operating pot
bellied stove, dim lighting, and a familiar smell of candles provides
part of the trip back in time ambiance.

You can't go wrong starting with the Old Tyme Candy Shoppe, which is
actually connected to the main building. Keeping with the old-fashioned
historical look, the Candy Shoppe fulfills a candy lover's dream with
hundreds of items including foiled-wrapped chocolates, cordials,
homemade fudge, general and old-fashioned candy (how about some pop
rocks and Clark Bars?), Gummis, holiday candy, jelly beans,
old-fashioned licorice, penny candy, gourmet specialty sweets (like
peanut butter cups!), root beer barrels, Teenie Beenie and
Truffles. The selection is staggering and the sweet experience
sure to bring about happy childhood memories.

Before leaving the Candy Shoppe, please be sure to check out the
extensive candle collection, including Yankee and Colonial Candle
brands.

The Wayside Country Store features a variety of gift, food and
collectible merchandise that ranks amongst the best country stores in
New England. If you're in the mood for purchasing more food after all
that candy, the Wayside Country offers general store favorites like
common crackers, Vermont cheddar cheese, ginger snaps, and pickles from
a barrel. We recently purchased a delicious, all-natural
lemon caesar dressing, made in Vermont.

The kids will surely love the impressive array of toys, puzzles, and
stuffed animals (yes, they have Webkinz!), while moms, grandmothers and
daughters are sure to fall in love with the extensive variety of gifts,
collectibles and Christmas-related items including the Annalee,
Snowbabies, Willow Tree, Worry Box, and Boston Bean Pots lines of
merchandise, as well as greeting cards. Of course, you'll find New
England and other regionally-based souvenirs, but in the whole context
of the store, this type of merchandise is entirely appropriate and not
too overwhelming.

Upon leaving the Wayside Country Store, I felt good about supporting
local business, shopping within a historical building, taking in the
old-fashioned feeling, and browsing, with interest, the variety of
country store merchandise. While enjoying a root beer barrel on the
ride back home, I could hardly wait to tell family and friends about
this special old-time store. Now when was the last time you felt
that way when shopping a local store?

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